Alexander Brown House

The Alexander Brown House is a Romanesque Revival residence built in 1895 on West Onondaga Street, constructed from light-colored Potsdam sandstone with Spanish tile roof elements. The structure spans multiple stories with ornamental stone facades and tall rounded arch windows that define this architectural style.

The house was built in 1895 for Alexander T. Brown, co-founder of the Brown-Lipe-Chapin Company, an automotive parts supplier. The company later merged into General Motors, making Brown an influential figure in early American automobile manufacturing.

The house shows how wealthy factory owners of the late 1800s used elaborate stonework and decorative details to display their success. Visitors can see this craftsmanship in the facades and windows, which reflected the social standing of those who lived here.

The house is located in an established residential neighborhood in Syracuse and is visible from the street, making it easily accessible for those interested in architecture. Visitors should note that this is a private residence and can only be viewed from outside.

The house was equipped with cutting-edge home technologies, including a hydraulic elevator, a household-wide vacuum system, and a special glass tile skylight. These innovations were extremely rare in the late 1800s and reveal Brown's wealth and interest in modern conveniences.